Jen (Ryan) Hickes survived the wind, rain and the pain on Monday to complete the Boston Marathon.

But don’t tell the Great Falls native the 26.2-mile trip was torturous.

“Nope,” she said. “If you can run 26 miles it just means you’re lucky to be alive.”

Hickes and two relatives, Jillian Baker and Tama Baker-Brooks, were among the thousands who ran through the streets of Boston earlier this week. Athletes must qualify for entry in the acclaimed race, but not in this case.

“My two nieces are nurses,” said Jan Hickes of Great Falls, referring to Jillian and Tama. “Five years ago they were watching the race when the bomb went off. They were hit by shrapnel and did their best to help the other injured people.”

Jillian and Tama were given passes to run the race this year and were able to invite a guest. So Jen went along. There were about 25 Treasure State residents who finished the race; Jen was the only one originally from Great Falls.

“They were survivors of that awful bombing and I was really proud to run with them,” Jen said. “They’re pretty awesome ladies. They went through a terrible experience but I know, too, they’re thankful to be alive and to participate.”

Jen is married to Hunter Hickes, a 1992 GFH graduate who is a chemist in Missoula. Jen was not a notable Bison athlete back in the day, but sisters Katie and Kelly were. The Ryan siblings are the daughters of former Great Falls residents Bill and Elaine Ryan.

“I didn’t start really running until after I had kids. And then just for fun,” Jen said. “I have a great group of friends I run with. I like the social aspect of it.”

On Sunday in Great Falls, of course, the downtown streets will be filled with thousands of runners also enjoying a social outing as the 39th Ice Breaker Road Race unfolds. The annual event, which includes races of five, three and one mile in length, begins at 1 p.m. and usually attracts more than 3,500 runners, joggers and walkers to the center of Great Falls.

“The Ice Breaker is a great race,” said Jen. “I’ve run that one quite a few times. I’m not sure I’ll be there this weekend but it’s a lot of fun.”

AT LEAST SIX elite runners have registered for Sunday’s featured five-mile event, which starts at 1 p.m. and offers a $1,500 prize for the top male and female finishers. The three-miler begins at 2 p.m. followed at 3 by a 1-mile fun run. The cost is $22 for adults and youths 11 and older, $60 for a family of four. More information is available by calling 771-1265 of stopping by the Great Falls Park and Recreation office at 1700 River Drive N.

One does not need to be “elite” in order to enjoy the race, of course.

“It’s always a huge, festive social occasion,” said Ice Breaker race director Patty Rearden of the Park and Rec office. “After the long winter we’ve had, and the nice weather we’re going to have this weekend, it’s going to be a perfect time to get out.”

All registrants receive long-sleeved Ice Breaker shirts, lunch and finisher medallions. Complete results of the race will be available Sunday night at www.gftrib.com and will be published in Monday editions of the newspaper.

The Ice Breaker always features hundreds of veteran runners and familiar names. Once again this weekend, fans can expect to see dedicated runner Louise Mitchell, 85.

Louise suffered a heart attack while competing in the Ice Breaker at the 2013 Ice Breaker and recently has been battling cancer. The Great Falls woman plans to run this weekend in a new category: 85 and over.

“We have a lot of dedicated participants who have run for many years and have asked for more age groups,” said Rearden. “We added the 80-and-over class a few years ago and have now added 85-and-older.”

JEN HICKES admittedly is no elite runner.

“Fun runs are the best,” she said.

The Boston Marathon, she said, is nothing if not a top-shelf experience.